Every professional woman shops at Ann Taylor, J.Crew, and Banana Republic for workwear — but you’d be surprised to know how MANY other options there are. I’m always inspired to see the number of workwear fashion start-ups and independent brands specializing in aspects of workwear. Many of the founders have personally held corporate jobs, or created the brand to fill a gap in the market they saw. (If it doesn’t exist, create it, right?) These are some of the workwear fashion start-ups and other companies on my radar — ladies, which companies are your radar?Which have you purchased from (or which are you eyeing)?

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Project Gravitas (built-in shapers) – “Innovative women’s apparel – with a Core Collection Made in NYC with luxury fabrics and a patented built-in shapewear lining.” (2018 Update: this line is now available at Lord & Taylor!)

Wallis Evera (eco friendly) – “Wallis Evera creates clothing to spark dialogue and inspire change toward a more sustainable future. We focus on hemp, the most eco-friendly fibre in existence.”

Special Sizes

Universal Standard (plus sizes) – “a plus-size inclusive brand of women’s modern essentials in sizes 10-28. The curve-loving label is designed to go from work to play.” (2018 Update: This brand is now available at Nordstrom!)

Kit and Ace was founded by Chip Wilson and his wife- the former CEO of lululemon, I don’t know that it’s truly an “independent boutique”, it’s all over Canada.

I have some of their stuff- it wears well, but sizes run small (unsurprising, given that Chip Wilson is involved), but none of it is really work appropriate, except for a Friday, unless your office is casual.

Even as someone who works in a fairly casual office, the Kit and Ace stuff looks way too casual. Maybe some of the blouses below a blazer or cardigan, but most of it is too short, too low cut, too trendy, just generally too much for work. And the dresses….oh dear. Maybe on the weekends, but even then, it looks kind of like an expensive version of forever 21.

I am 5’2″ and I love MM LaFleur. It all depends on the dress style. I generally wear an 8P and find the 8 size in MM right (generally). The Nisa, Emily, and Sarah have all worked for me and look fabulous. The deneuve top is also great. The Wolfe looks better on me than the regular jardigan because ironically being longer, it creates a better illusion of height. All pants would need hemming. I would look for a pop-up in your area (they come to LA 3x per year or so) so you can avoid the try & return.

I just visited an MM LaFleur pop-up. They just expanded into W sizes and petites are next on their list – can’t wait. I found some of their dresses fit great (I am very short-waisted) and others would have needed to be tailored in order to have them hit at the right spot. I usually wear a 12P in brands such as Tahari, but needed a 14 at MM.

I have bought and returned. I am sometimes attracted to it in the NM catalog, often for the reason you mentioned, but I absolutely hated the material and cut when it arrived. It was a scratchy knit that was also boxy. I’m a boxy shape and it was too boxy even for me. I did not think the fabric was worth the price, either. YMMV – it was just one piece.

I really like the styles from MM LaFleur too! However- has anyone had issues with the material pilling? Specifically, I have ordered 4 colors of the “Etusko” style. The first one I got pilled really badly after wearing a necklace so MM La Fleur replaced it for me after I complained (which was greatly appreciated). However, I have two other Etusko’s from maybe 1 – 1.5 years ago and they are starting to pill in parts as well. I always wash them cold gentle and hang to dry per the instructions. Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem.

Hi Ellen,
I had the same problem with MM.LaFleur’s Etsuko dress and also their Nisa. I had worn each only about 6-7 times.
I complained and their response was that pulling was a “natural result of wear over time”. They strongly suggested getting an electric fabric shaver, which actually did end up working out for me (got mine on Amazon, from Conair). However, I’ve never experienced this pilling issue with similar fabrics from Banana Republic, J Crew and even Express. They also offered me a flat discount to apply towards my next order, which I did end up taking because I do love their dresses so much and their customer service is excellent.

I’ve bookmarked this post so I can go through it all, thank you! I love MM LaFleur, 80% of my closet is from there. I have been on the lookout for better lingerie, and have recently found white rabbit (meh), negative underwear (haven’t tried yet) and third love (love for sure).

Maybe! I am a similar size and ordered some items for them and only one was flattering – which probably has more to do with my body shape than my size-specifically. But – it’s harder to find flattering things for size 16 women because there is more variety in our body shapes. I will say – I ordered some items and kept one, and I figured – hey – why not get the Bento Box? And nothing in the Bento Box worked at all. Your first bento is free, but subsequent bentos have a $25 styling fee, so you might have better luck ordering the items to see if they fit you and returning them, rather than getting a bento where it turns out nothing works for you.

I have 2 pairs and adore them shamelessly. They look like real pants, albeit very fitted through the rear. Size up. They run long as well, could be hemmed easily though. Boot cut are fairly wide, slim more straight-legged for me. I ordered petite slim cut and they work perfect with 1 inch wedges. If you want to use my referral link you save $15 on your first order and I get a kickback.https://www.betabrand.com/referrals/landing/friend/?r=6fAf

I have 2 pairs and wear them regularly — though I agree that they look odd with tucked in shirts. I have ordered a number of other items from Beta Brand though and hated them all uniformly. The dress pant yoga pants are the only things on their website I’ve had any luck with.

I bought them and I work in California in a business casual office and would not feel comfortable wearing them to work. They are thicker than normal yoga pants and they have pockets and stuff but they don’t hang like normal pants because of the stretch material, so they are tight. They are, for me, expensive weekend wear.

I have not had that problem with MM LaFleur but I am new to the brand. I think I generally have issues with machine washable work wear. While I like the concept of saving on dry cleaning, machine washable work wear doesn’t last as long and I think makes fabrics wear faster. Also, who doesn’t like the crisp clean lines of a freshly dry cleaned dress?!

I’ve had mixed feelings about MM.LaFleur’s stuff, to the point where I went through 2 bentos (overly comprehensive review here if anyone’s curious: http://www.reasonablypresentable.com/index.php/2016/04/28/mm-lafleur-review/) and own 4 pieces of their clothing, and I’m still uncertain whether I think the quality is worth the price. Their branding is amazing, though, and their customer service is great.

I will say, though, that even the stuff that felt like it fit me totally wrong mostly looks great in photographs. Also, I managed to comfortably wear their high-waisted NoHo pencil skirt with pretty bad acid reflux. That is a pretty big deal to me.

Also, I have an anecdote about a particular piece of their clothing that I personally think is hilarious. The copy on their Graham Kimono, which I own in Indigo, reads, “Made from super-soft Italian jersey, it’s the perfect travel layer.” I’ve worn it through airports 3 times. The first time, I wore it tied in the front, and the security agent made me go back through the x-ray machine with it untied because otherwise I’d need a groin patdown. “Oooookay,” I thought to myself, “keeping this untied from now on.” The third time I went through the airport wearing it untied, the machine marked me as needing a butt patdown. So, pro tip? The Graham Kimono is not *actually* a great travel layer if you’re planning on wearing it through airport security. :D

I have bought a few pairs of the Betabrand Dress Pant Yoga Pants, and I wouldn’t use them for either dress pants or to do yoga (don’t breathe well/wrong fit). They are OK for business casual IMO, but not much beyond that. Seriously comfortable though. The fabric is different for different color/prints in the pants. I have glen plaid and herringbone, and the fabric seemed a little cheap for what they cost. OTOH, I recently got a pair of the pinstripes and these I love. They are a substantial, soft ponte-feel knit that hang very well (the other 2 pairs don’t).

I’m 5’4″ and typically a 31″ inseam is perfect to be able to wear a small, walkable heel. The petites are just a hair shorter than I like them; the regular I definitely need hemmed.

I love the idea of this company and keep trying new things. I’m currently waiting on the active blazer and the Palazzo DPYP. I’m hopeful.

Forgot to mention that I also got a pair of the travel cargo pants because I loved the idea of all those pockets that zip for airport days when you just need to shove something important (e.g. drivers license) into a pocket for a few minutes. They are great for that, but the fabric is too sturdy and warm (almost feels fleece-lined) for summer travel.

i’m a little obsessed with mm la fleur right now. my favorite is the noho skirt – -the first comfortable pencil skirt i’ve ever worn (i’m pretty petite w a stomach pooch). i also like the foster pant and the sarah dress (when it used to be machine washable). the only thing i have liked at kit and ace is the mulberry pant, which i think can pass at work.

along the same lines of online luxury boutiques, i like m. gemi for shoes.

The websites you listed were great; however, a major appeal of Banana Republic, J.Crew, Ann Taylor, etc. is that their work attire for young professionals is reasonable. A dress can run you $50-$120. Their prices are so reasonable that I cannot see myself spending $600 on a dress, regardless pay raises from the “just starting out” days.

While these brands are aiming to fill a void that has been around for a long time, this niche market fails to take into account young professionals. As a recent law graduate, I don’t have the funds to buy from any of the above brands listed. Problem is, I’m forced to go to low end sources that aren’t good quality and only last so many washes. Can someone help a recent professional grad out and suggest work wear that is both quality and affordable (i.e. stuff under $100)?

If you really need cheap and interchangeable, consider Ny&Co. Nothing special, but they tend to have something to get you by. And if you need to buy a whole wardrobe, their coupons will help a lot. Get on their email list before you shop!

I know this comment is belated, but I very much have the boob gap problem in button up shirts and so took a look at “The Shirt, by Rochelle Behrens” – all I can say is that the term “100% Poly Crepe de Chine” on a $98 shirt annoys me unreasonably.

Been doing a lot of shopping for professional (think being with Board of Director appropriate) clothing and I must say, the choices pretty much suck. Mm lafluer is way overpriced for the quality IMO. Tahrai dresses at Macys cost less than half and are fully lined. I need suits that are well made and comfortable and I just can’t get MM to work. Of Mercer I tried several years ago and was shocked they were considered work appropriate. Dresses really short and big boob gap. Going to check brook brothers next. If they don’t work am seriously considering a tailor.